Jonathan Trappe Has Crossed Lake Michigan, The English Channel On Previous Flights

As of Wednesday afternoon, cluster balloonist Jonathan Trappe was go for launch on his quest to be the first to cross the Atlantic Ocean under a cluster of what many consider to be toy balloons.

No, these are not toy balloons like the ones your kids get at Disneyland, but neither are they designed for manned flight. As a pilot, Trappe has progressed from a four hour flight sitting in his office chair - simply to prove to one of his IT colleagues that the concept can work - to having crossed Lake Michigan, the English Channel, the Alps – and having flown the world’s largest cluster of balloons above a house for National Geographic.

The Atlantic is his greatest challenge and his greatest dream. Although Trappe has already flown the world’s largest cluster, this one will be even bigger – 3,000 cubic meters, or 105,000 cubic feet made up of 365 individual gas balloons. The crossing is expected to take 3 to 6 days.

Should the flight fail – including the possible loss of his life, as others have died trying to fly across the Atlantic in all manner of aircraft, Trappe knows many will rush to social media and claim the attempt was pure folly. But he insists it is not – it is possible. And it should also be noted that Trappe is not a “lawn chair Larry” out for a thrill ride. He has completed every required phase of lighter-than-air pilot training, is a certificated LTA pilot, and with each flight in his career has built a path of greater and greater accomplishment leading to this final step – where he hopes to make history.

Godspeed Jonathan!

(Jonathan Trappe pictured in 2012 YouTube video)

FMI: http://clusterballoon.com/, www.facebook.com/benniebos